Wild Weather

Wild Weather

Elizabeth MacDonald

DroughtDroughts are created when an area does not get the necessary amount of precipitation it needs for an extended period of time. They cause water shortages and may damage agricultural produce.http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/274068Image Source:http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/274068/media

SnowSnow is crystalized water in Earth's atmosphere. Snowflakes may form as water vapor collects around tiny particles of floating minerals, or in even colder temperatures, water vapor turns directly into snow. Snow can typically be found in cirrus and alto clouds.http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/277106Image Source:http://www.pics4learning.com/details.php?img=misc17.jpg

SleetSleet is created when snow falls through a warmer layer of air, partly melts, and then passes through a layer of air that is below freezing. The water freezes into pellets of ice before reaching the surface of Earth.http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/sleet/?ar_a=1Image Source:http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/68185/media

HailHail is created when strong updrafts in thunderstorms take drops of water above the freezing level. The water freezes, creating a piece of hail, or hailstone. It may grow in size if additional water freezes on top of the original hailstone. Like other types of precipitation, it falls to the ground when it gets too heavy.http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/content/how-does-hail-formImage Source:http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/38807/media

RainRain is formed when water is evaporated from oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water into water vapor. The vapor condenses when cooled into clouds. When the water becomes heavy enough, it falls as rain.http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/276645Image Source:http://www.pics4learning.com/details.php?img=rouen_3572.jpg

Supercell ThunderstormThis type of thunderstorm is much more severe than a standard thunderstorm. In addition to the components of moisture, a source of lift, and instability of air parcels that are needed to create a standard thunderstorm, a supercell thunderstorm needs winds that rotate clock-wise as altitude increases.http://www.wunderground.com/resources/severe/severe_storms.asp?MR=1Image Source:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chaparral_Supercell_2.JPG

ThunderstormThe swift movement of warm, moist air to the upper parts of the atmosphere makes thunderstorms occur. The moisture forms cumulonimbus clouds when it condenses. Sinking columns of cool air cause downdrafts and strong winds. Precipitation and sometimes lightning will also occurs.http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/106249Image Source:http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/106249/media?assemblyId=157731

TornadoesTornadoes form with supercell thunderstorms under certain conditions, however scientists are not exactly sure how tornadoes are made. When a thunderstorm meets horizontal winds at high altitudes, a horizontal, rotating column of air is created out of the warm and rising air in the storm. Updrafts may cause the air column to begin rotating faster. A funnel cloud is then created, and a tornado is born. http://www.eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/tornado3.htmImage Source:http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/106250/media?assemblyId=120776

Tropical CycloneIn order for this storm to form, wind and warm water must be present. Wind causes water from the ocean to evaporate, which then condenses to form large cumulonimbus clouds. As the clouds grow in size, the condensing water vapor releases heat at higher altitudes. This creates an area of high pressure and winds. A low pressure area is made near the surface, and air moves toward these low pressure areas. Winds continue to grow in strength, making the storm stronger.http://scijinks.jpl.nasa.gov/hurricane/Image Source:http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/390127/media?assemblyId=88714

FogFog is formed in a very similar to clouds. Water vapor collects and condenses around microscopic pieces of dust or other materials to create fog particles. Fog usually occurs when cooler air is mixed with warmer air, bringing the water vapor in the warmer air to a temperature at which it can condense into liquid water.http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/274361Image Source:http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/274361/media

Weather is a very important part of our lives, and many different kinds of it exist on Earth.

Weather is diverse, unpredictable, and amazing. It can be pleasureable, annoying, or even dangerous.